Fifth-wheel.



No. 685,629. Patented Oct. 29, l90l.

J. McLAUGHLlN.

FIFTH WHEEL.

(Application filed Feb. 9, 1900.) (No Model.), 2 Sheets-Sheet I.

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Tiara? .TT'Er/fins- M %W@C8%M4 BY T'ZDRNEJrH No. 685,629. Patented Oct. 29, lam." J. McLAUGHLIN.

FIFTH WHEEL.

(Applicatidn filed Feb. 9, 1900.)

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

//I/I//I//IIIA WITNESSES mvswrmz 4am Jfiwi z'ns dWd 1 XM 43. fb BY HTTURNE Y. K WI7W UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES MOLAUGHLIN, OF .OVID, MICHIGAN.

FIFTH-WHEEL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 685,629, dated October 29, 1901.

Application filed February 9, 1900. Serial No. 4,691. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I,-JAMEs MOLAUGHLIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ovid, in the county of Clinton and State of Michigan, have invented new and useful Improvements in Fifth-Wheels, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in fifth-wheels for vehicles; and it consists, first, in the new and novel construction of the upper and lower members of the fifth-wheel hereinafter described; second, in the combination between the lower member and the brace connecting the king-bolt with the perches and with the upper circle in such a manner that the upper circle and the upper perch-irons combine with the king-bolt in connecting together the parts, so as to receive the strain caused by the draft on the front axle; third, in so adapting the king-bolt sleeve to the axletree as to leave an opening or space for the use of a clip for securing and strengthening the axle and bed; fourth, in the new and novel method of securing the lower circle to the axle; fifth, in the new and novel method or device for preventing rattling of the upper and lower circles of the fifth-wheel, and, sixth, in the various other novelties of construction hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

The objects of my invention are, first, to construct a fifth-wheel of the fewest number of parts consistent with strength and durability; second, to cheapen the construction;

efficient means for attachingthe lower circle or lower member to the axle; fifth, to provide an antirattler which will always work efficiently and will have little or no tendency to get out of repair, and, sixth, various other ob- ,jects more fully described, and pointed out in the specification and claims. These objects I accomplish by means of the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in i which Figure 1 is a plan view of the fifth-wheelconstructed in accordance with my invention attached to the front axle and bolster or spring-bar of the vehicle. Fig. 2 is an inverted plan view showing the under side of'the fifth-wheel, the axle, and spring-bar. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal vertical sectional View on line now of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a front perspective view, partially in section, designed to show the antirattler and its connection with the brace and lower member of the fifth-. wheel. Fig. 5 is a perspective View of the lower circle with the'attaching-clip, which clip attaches the lower circle to the axle. Fig. 6 is a sectional view of the lower circle and projection or enlargement which comes in contact with the axle. Fig. 7 is/a detached view of the brace K with the crossbrace L and its loge L L, the whole being constructed in one piece.

Similar characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

A is the front axle of the vehicle.

13 is the spring-bar or bolster, which is sejcured to the upper circle.

O. is the upper circle of the fifth-wheel, secured to the bolster in any suitable manner. D is the lower circle secured to the axle, as hereinafter described.

E and E are the perch-irons, and G and are the perches. The perch-irons are made.

integral withthe upper circle and are provided with an upward extension, forming a shoulder P, adapted to prevent the lower circle from being drawn outof place, as hereinafter described. Extending in a line with the two sides of the upper circle and form a plate beneath the spring bar or bolster.

It will be noted that the upper circle 0, the Web T, the perch-irons E and E, with the lugs P P, all are cast in a single piece.

F is a cross brace extending across the lower circle and made integral therewith. Integral with this brace F is a sleeve V.

K is the king-bolt brace, provided with an eye V87.

U is the king-bolt, provided with a head H. The king-bolt passes through the eye T of the web T, through the sleeve V and the eye W, and is secured at the bottom by the nut I.

The king-bolt brace K has a T-shaped extension L at its rear end and also the lugs L L, all constructed in one piece. The parts L L rest upon the upper surface of the perches and are secured thereto by means of the bolts passing through the lugs P P, the lugs L L, and the perches, as shown in Fig. 3. The cross-piece L is between the lower circle and the perches. In the piece L, I provide a recess or depression for the receipt of the spring M, which spring is preferably of rubber, but may be constructed of any suitable material. Through this spring I provide a bolt 0, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. The upper end of the bolt 0 engages with the groove in the lower surface of the lower circle. This bolt is held in position by means of the nut J, and the spring may be adjusted so as to give greater or less pressure upon the lower circle, retaining the upper and lower circle always in contact and preventing all rattling.

Q is a plate connecting the sleeve V to the axle. This connection maybe made by bolts or clips. This eye-plate is so constructed as to leavean opening R, which opening is shown in Fig. Qaud is between the bolts S S. The object of this opening B is to allow for the insertion of a clip, binding together and strengthening the axle and axle-bed.

In Fig.6 the lower circle D is shown provided with an integral clip-attaching device 1, preferably in the form of a stirrup, which bears on the upper surface of the axle A. This clip-attaching device 1 has an opening 2 therein, provided with a groove 3 in the upper portion thereof. The object of this grooved opening 2 is to permit the insertion of a clip 4, the groove 3 providing room for the passage of the round portion of the clip. The broader portion of the clip after it has been inserted rests in the opening :2. The clip is then bent into the form shown in Fig. 5 and a keeper is applied to the lower ends thereof, which lower ends are provided with screwthreads for the purpose of holding the attaching-nuts.

Having thus described. my invention, what I claim to have invented, and desire to secure byLet-ters Patent, is

1. In a fifth-wheel for vehicles, the combination with the lower circle of an upper circle having rearwardly-projecting lugs, upper perch-irons and a web connecting the said perch-irons at the front end, provided with a king-bolt eye; said circle, lugs and web all cast in one piece; perches, and suitable means for attaching the circle and perch-irons to said perches, substantially as described.

2. In. combination with an upper circle and perch-irons having a web at their front; end, said web provided with a king-bolt eye, a shoulder P at the rear ends, and king-bolt brace provided with a cross piece or brace L adapted to rest against said shoulders and a lower circle passing above the cross-piece L and beneath the upper circle.

3. The combination with an upper circle, perch-irons having a web at their front ends provided with an eye, and shoulder P, at their rear ends a connecting-bolt brace K, having across strip or brace L engaging with the shoulders of the perch-irons, rearwardly-projecting lugs L L, rearward projections P P on the upper circle, bolts passing through the projections P and the lugs L, and lower circle passing between the cross-brace L and the upper circle. i

at. The combination with the upper circle having perch-irons integral therewith, and web at the front of said perch-irons, a kingbolt eye therein, shoulders at the rear end of said perch-irons, rearward projections P P integral with the upper circle, and a lower circle having the integral brace F and kingbolt sleeve V, a king-bolt brace K, having an eye at its front end, and a cross-piece L at its rear end and integral lugs L L, a kingbolt passing through the eye in the web-sleeve V and the eye W, substantially as described.

5. In a fifth-wheel, the combination of an upper circle having perch-irons integral therewith, a lower'circle provided with a brace, said brace having a king-bolt sleeve therein, a king-bolt, and a king-bolt brace adapted to connect the lower end of said king-bolt with the perch-irons above the perches.

6. In combination with a lower circle of the fifth-wheel, a brace K having a cross brace or piece L, resting upon the perches, a depression in the cross-piece-below the lower circle, a spring in said depression and a bolt held in contact with the under surface of the lower circle.

7. The combination of the lower circle of the fifth-wheel, a king-bolt brace K, having a cross-piece L, a depression in the cross-piece, a groove in the under side of the lower circle, a bolt having a bearing in said groove, and a spring holding the bolt in contact with said groove.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JAMES M CLAUGIILIN.

Witnesses:

ELIZABETH J. PHILLIPS, EDWARD TAGGART. 

